Switch inclosure



July 17, 1934. H, M. sTlEGLlTz SWITCH INCLOSURE Filed Aug. 14, 1931 xttor'negs Patented July 17, 1934 'swrrcn rNeLosUnr Henry in. stierlifz, st. Louis, Mhz, assiiho'r to lration 'of Missouri mentation February r4, 19m, serial 2m. 42e-36s. Divided. ma mammaires su- -zust 14, 1931, Serial No. 557,091

s claims. l(ci. "zw-'56) My 'im/entran relatesfto improvements-in switch Mesures, and more 'particlarly to improvements in Etching means tor .a door oef .a inse compartment, adaptedto prevent personal conl. tact wtth live switch parts. This invention dorms a division of the .isnbct matter tof Ymy paterna application riior mum-type salety switches, Serial No.428,368,-fed1ebruary 14, M30.

An object of myvi'nvention is to provide, inconmectidn with inclosed fuse switches, an improved latching mechanism, ou'` 'interlock forr the fuse door which precludes access yto the fuse compartment when .the switch vis in closedfposition.

Another object o1' my invention is to provide Aa iis. fuse-door latcln'ng device 'operatively associated with the kkswitch mechanism, whereby the opening of thek switch is .prerequisite tothe opening of the fuse door which, when opened, results'in the swi'tch 'being eeetuwlly locked in open position.

'in A further object of my 'invention is to provide an automatic latching device having the vabove recited characteristics, which is simple and economical of manufacture.

Other obfects and .advantages willi appear from 'Il the following description and `accompanying drawing yillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 of which is :a plan view of an: inclosed switch Aequipped with the 'device of my invention, the fuse-door show-n disposedin latched position; Fig.f2,lfsimil|trv to Fig. 1, shows the fusedoor andswitch actuating handle'inopen position, the .latter 'being locked to prevent closure yof the switch, 'and Fig. '3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3--3 of Fig. I. For mrrposes of clearness, certain `elements appearingin 1 and 3 have bee'nomtted in Fig. 2. In Fig. l, mpresentdby dotted lines, are shown the essential elements 'of a three-pole, brush-typeswitch. arranged near one end of the switch structure for cormectlon with a power circuit are terminal lugs 5, securedl to dat `coiirllictor vstrips 6, the inner portions fiwhich provide contact surfaces for brush-type switch blades 7. These 'blade members are carried by a swivel frame 8, from which'they are electrically insuiat'ed, which frame, extending Vcioss'wise ci ,the blades, YisV adapted rocked upon actuation of` they-switch handle 9-toeffect opening and closing of the switch. When the switch is in closed position, a circuit is adapted to lbe completed rthrough the strips 6', and opposing .conductor strips 10, the endsfdf which lie in a plane above'the plane of the strips '6; The brush blades 'If are thereby 188 adapted to make contact, at vone end, .with the upper surfaces of the strips 6, and at the dther.

the under surfaces of the strips 10. A

spaced apart from 'th'e 4swi'tc'l'i proper are 'fuses 11, .disposed infuse cups 121cm 'the conductors 21o, and ruse cups 1a on conducting strips Y14, which latter vstrips are provided--w1hutrminal 'lugs 1f5 connectionwith wires forming 'distribution circuits; l Obviously, Awhen fthe switch is installed m 'the manner intended, power being delivered to the yllsis'ernbly ait -the Switching end and discharged from the fu'seend, opening of the switch renders 'the fuses dead,y s'o that they may then be lfiandld'withou't danger. The I'n'ea'ris hereinafter described absolutely prevent 'personal contact the fand associated elements Wliefs'ch arie energized through 'the switch. y

lfentir'e switch and fuse assembly is disposed within a metal casing, the side walls 156 vof which' (Fig. 31) are provided with outwardly turned ariges 11'1 'to which a removable cover plate is adapted toA secured as by mea-ris of screws I8, ofrfthe equivalent. The cover plate by preference is formed in two sec'timis,thel smaller portion 119 of which ovrlis the terminal lugs 5 and is adapted to be removed independently of the port'in 20' which -forxns a closure ,for 'the switch mechanism and fuses. A door 21 is provided in the cover plate through which access to the fuses is obtained to lpermit of their removal and replacement in case of rupture. Since vthe fu's'es and fus'e clips become energized when 'the switch is closed, Athe fuse door at such times must be closed and 'locked in closed position to guard against anyat'tempt -to`handle the fuses. Automatic locking of the fuse door, dependent Nupon the 'open or closed position `of the switch ractuating handle, is accomplished by means of a locking plate 22, which also operatesV to prevent the switch` being closed at vsuch times when the fuse door isopen. Thus the locking of the fuse door 9s and the switch are interdependent, either being dependent upon the open 'or closed position of the other. The fusedoor is hinged by prefer'- enc'e, 'on an axis transverse to the normal movement of r'the `switch actuating handle 9, with the freie end of the door disposed toward the handle. Strips 23, secured to the underside Vof the cover plate, extend beyond the margin vof the opening and provide a seat for the fuse doorwhen 'closed'. A .catch 24, mounted on thedoor, is adapted to engage one of the strips 28 and serves to prevent the door from accidentally falling open, anevent likely to occur when the switch is mounted in a vertical or inverted position.

Tux-rung now to the fuse-door and switch interrco lit

locking means, hereinbefore mentioned, the locking plate 22 is supported by an enlarged head portion of a stud 25 which depends from the under side of the cover plate and passes through an L-shaped opening or slot 26, in the locking plate. Endwise movement of the locking plate is effected by the switch handle, the handle being secured for pivotal movement with a yoke member 27,the yoke member forming a part of the switch actuating mechanism. The switch handle extends through the cover plate 20, and the locking plate 22, openings 28 and 29, respectively, being provided in the members for that purpose. The locking plate extends beyond the margin of the opening formed by the fuse door and is provided with an irregularly shaped recess 30 through which a latch member, or keeper 31, onthe door is adapted to extend when the fuse door is in closed position. The keeper 3l has a laterally projecting oif-set portion 32 which is adapted to be engaged by a lip 33, on the locking plate.

Turning now to the means provided for locking the switch in open position when the fuse-door is open, it may be seen that the l.shaped opening Y 26 in the locking plate is so oriented that an arm portion 34 thereof extends longitudinally with respect to the locking plate, and arm portion 35 of the slot 26 extends transversely of the locking plate. A spring 36 having one of its ends secured to the cover plate and the other end to the locking plate, tends to displace the locking plate sidewardly to cause the stud 25 to enter the transverse arm 35 of the slot. When the fuse-door is closed, lateral displacement of the locking plate is prevented by reason of the keeper 3l, an edge surface 37 of which engages an edge 3S of the recess 30 in the locking plate. Before the fuse door can be opened the stud must necessarily lie adjacent the transverse arm 35 of the slot. Upon opening the fuse door the locking plate will be drawn sidewardly by the spring 36 into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby preventing endwise movement of the locking plate, and ei'lectually locking the switch handle. When the fuse door is again closed, an oblique surface 39 on the keeper 31, cams the locking plate into its normal position, whereafter the switch handle can be freely actuated.

In order to perfect the closure of the switch compartment, I prefer to provide an auxiliary cover or closure for the opening 28 through which the switch handle extends. This slot-closure pref erably consists of a plate 40 (Fig. 3) having a handle opening therethrough, and disposed for endwise sliding movement, along the face of the switch front, between guides formed in a member 43; the sliding movement of the slot-closer being imparted to it by movement of the switch handle. As will appear from the dotted outline of the locking plate 22 in Figs, 1 and 2, this member is entirely sufficient to serve as a slot closer as well as a door interlock. A more finished appearance, however', results from the use of a separate closure element at this point, and dis- Y posed on the outer face of the switch front. The

member 43 may be riveted, welded, or otherwise secured to the switch front, and is provided with a pair of parallel anges 44 arranged on opposite sides of the switch handle, the handle being adapted for movement therebetween. Registering openings 45 may be provided in the flanges, through which a padlock or the equivalent may be extended, to prevent unauthorized actuation' of the switch.

It will thusbe seen that a simple and inexpensive interlocking arrangement is provided in accordance with the foregoing objects. The device herein shown and described is set forth in an exemplary and not a limiting sense. I fully realize that certain variations may be made, parts added and interchanged without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination with a front closure member for a switch of inclosed type including a handle projecting through the closure, a door formed by a portion of the front, a switch and door interlocking member carried by the front and having an opening therein adapted to receive the switch handle, a spring associated with said member, said member being adapted for endwise movement by the switch handle, and lateral movement by said spring.

2. In a switch of inclosed type, a switch front, a'V door constituting a portion of the switch front, a latch member for the door having an L-shaped slot therein, a stud on said switch front projecting through said slot, and a switch handle extending through the front and said latch member, said latch member being adapted for swinging movement about the switch handle and arranged for endwise movement responsive to switch actuating movement of said handle.

3. In a switch of inclosed type including a switch front, a door formed by a portion of the switch front, a switch handle extending through the front, a latching member for the door carried by the switch front, and a stud on said switch front extending through the latching member, said member being adapted to be locked against endwise movement by said stud, said stud and latching member being related to permit a combined angular and endwise movement of said member upon actuation of the switch handle.

4. In a switch of inclosed type including a switch front, a door carried by the front, a switch handle extending through the front, a door locking element carried by the front, connected with said handle for pivotal movement thereabout, and a spring associated with said locking element, said element being arranged for rectilinear movement responsive to switch actuating movement of said handle, and for lateral movement responsive to the action of said spring.

5. A locking device for switches of a type including a switch front and a switch handle extending through the front, said device including a. substantially nat member disposed for pivotal movement about said handle, a stud carried by the switch front for limiting the pivotal movement of said member, said member having an angulate slot therein through which said stud extends, and a spring tending angularly to move said member about said handle into switch-locking position.

6. In a switch of inclosed type includin(T a switch front, a door formed by a portion of the front, a slotted latching member for the door, carried by the front, a switch handle extending through the slot, the slot in said latch member being shorter than the range of endwise movement of said handle in the plane of the switch front.

7. In a switch of inclosed type including a front closure therefor, means forming a fuse compartment within the switch inclosure, a door for access to the fuse compartment, a switch handle extending through the switch front and spaced from said door, a latching member carried by the switch front, and

the door, connected to the switch handle and arranged to be reciprocated thereby, and means for locking the switch handle against actuating movement when the door is'open, said means including a pivot carried by the switch front, an angulately slotted seat for said pivot formed in the latch bar, and a spring tending to urge said latch bar and pivot into relative position to prevent endwise movement of the latch bar.

HENRY M. STIEGLI'IZ. 

